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| Iraq-Jordan | |
| Iraqi Coastal Defence Force prepares to take control | |
| 2005-06-20 | |
| Bit by bit .... The rebuilding of Iraq's naval capability is proceeding so successfully that the service might be ready to take over responsibility for many maritime security operations from coalition forces by the end of 2005, the senior US Navy officer in the region said. According to Commander of US Naval Forces Central Command and the Fifth Fleet Vice Admiral David Nichols, training and equipping the Iraqi Coastal Defence Force (ICDF) "is an easier challenge than standing up an army". "They are off to a very good start," Adm Nichols said. The 800-strong force has stood up five trained patrol boat crews, whose operations have been integrated into coalition operations in the northern part of the Persian Gulf, Adm Nichols said. Iraq has five Chinese-built 27 m patrol craft armed with heavy machine guns, as well as smaller craft for use on the country's inland waterways. Iraq is building additional patrol vessels, Adm Nichols said, noting these could include logistic support ships for smaller boats to use as staging bases at sea for tasks such as refuelling and maintenance.
The Iraqi Coastal Defence Regiment - roughly equivalent to marines - is also performing security duties on oil platforms. A signal to Iran .... "At some point - I believe later this year - the Iraqis will assume full responsibility for security aboard their two oil platforms and will be further integrated into the coalition maritime force," Adm Nichols said. Security on the country's oil platforms, Al Basrah and Khawr Al Amaya, became a high priority following attempted suicide attacks by insurgents on 24 April 2004. Following the incident, coalition maritime security operations in the northern Gulf were strengthened, included putting Iraqi and coalition security personnel on the platforms and adding additional patrol boats to the region, Adm Nichols said. Since then, there have been no further attempts to attack the oil platforms, he said, adding "but we know through intelligence that the terrorists have notional plans and desire to attack targets in the maritime environment, including key oil infrastructure". | |
| Posted by:too true |